Attachment for ironing machines or mangles



Aug. 25, 1936.- s. LlFsl-rz f [2,052,310

l A ATTACHMENT FOR IRONING MACHINES OR MANGLES f7 Filed May x20, 1935 ATTORNEY.

ingbelts or` contacting rollers.

Patented Aug. 25, 1936 UNITED s1rn1`rss ,l d YATTACHMENT FOR IRONING MACHINES 0R MANGLES Sol Lfsitz, Detroit, Mich.

v Application May 20, 1935, Serial No. 22,390 Y' 11 Claims. (Crm1-15) The present inventionpertains to a novel attachment for ironing machines or mangles, and the object is to provide a mechanical means for replacing the usual manual operationl ofY moving out'thework as it is fed to the ironing machine or mangle.

Ordinarily, the operator first pulls or stretches the end to be first inserted inthe machine and thereafterv progressively smooths out the remainder of `the piece of work in Ysimilar manner as it is being Ydrawn into the machine. This is considered distinct .operation in laundry work, from the standpoint of expense-and: time consumed. The present invention provides a device that performs mechanically: and automatically the smoothing operation ordinarily performed by hand.

vThe invention -is` based on the principle of pulling a piece of-work through a stationary or slower lmoving device :adapted to effect a' brushing action on both surfaces of thework as itis pulled therethrough. The operator smooths out the entering end of the work and inserts it in the slower moving device, and thereafter the slip ofthe work between the-brushing surfaces of this device has the effect of smoothing. out the` remainder of the piece of work before it reaches the ironing machine ormangle.

I The faster or pulling unit consists of contact- The slower unit consists of contacting brush belts or brush rollers or of plain belts carrying the work betweenstationary, contacting brushes.- 1 The invention requires at leastA two conveying belts, one faster than the other,V but also contemplates :the use of more than twof units of progressively increasing speeds inthe direction towards the ironing machine or mangle. f

V'I'hetermsrironing'rnachinewand mangle are used synonomously throughout the specification and claims.V ,11. f

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawing in which Y.

Figure l is aside elevation of the frame of the machine; l Y

Figure 2 is an end view of ,theV machine; ,Figure 3 isa sectionon the line 3- -3 of Fig.- 111e2;" .f f

VFigure 4 is a longitudinal section of aV modified construction, on the'line'4-4 of Figure 5;

Figure 5 is a section on the line V5--5 of Figure 4, and f Figure (i isva detail longitudinal section of anotherlmodlcation. Y H f' f i y Y tween the belts I2 and I3, andnally between` Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed todesignate corresponding parts throughout.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a pair of side frame members I between `whichare journaled several 5 Y rollers as will presently be described. One such pair is indicated by the numerals 2 and 3, the members of this. pair being one above the other as clearlyshownin Figure v3. Associated with the rollers 2 and 3 are idlers 4 and 5 respectively, `10 f positioned forwardly of. the members 2 and 3, with the roller 5 preferably forward of the roller 4 for a, purpose which willpresently be described. The pair 2, 4 carries a belt of brushmaterial,` and the pair 3, 5 carries a similar belt 'I engaging 15 the lower lap ofthe belt. A

Another pair of rollers 8, 9 is mountedvadjacent to the rollers 2, 3 respectively and at approximately the same levels. Back of these are'idlers- I0 and II alsofjournaled in 'the frame members I 20V as' may be seen in Figure Vl. The pair 3, lucarries a belt I2, and the pair 9, I-I abelt I3. f Thesebelts mayconsist of ordinary belting material and are in engagementwith each other at the Vlower lap of belt I2 and the upper lap of belt I3.

` -A portion of avmangle, or conveyor to a mangle, is illustrated bythe rollers I4 and I5.A Work is passed through thevlrnachinefrom the forward lower roller 5 betweenV the belts. Band 1 andv bethe rollers I4 and` I5. All of the belts are preferably provided in the form of spaced strips as may be seen inAFigu're 2. Between the strips, vthe lower rollers 3 and 9 carry endless cords I3 for transferring the work from the top of belt I to the top of belt I3. Similarly,.the rollers II and I5; are connected byendless cords I'I totransfer the work from the top of ,belt- I 3'to the top of'roller I5. The drive Vgearing isshown in Figure 1 and may be provided at either side or both sides of the frame structure. VA concentric sprocket wheel 20, gear 2| and gear 2l are mountedbelow the space between the rollers. 3 and` 9. -A- chain 22 engages the sprocket'wheel to drive the gear 2| in. the direction indicated by the arrows. The rollers 3Y and 9 carrygears ,23,an-d 24 respectivelyand these mesh respectivelywith' idlers 25 and 26"res'pecti`vely which in turnare in mesh with the gears 2| and 2|. 'llt is to be noted that the gear 25 is larger than the gear 2 6 so that the gears 23 and 24, `'which are 'of equal size, turn at different speeds, the gear 24 being theV faster inperipheral-velocity.` The gears` 23V and 24 mesh inturn'with the gears 21 and 28i on the rollers 2 and 8 respectively. All of these four gears are of equal size so that the rollers 2 and 8 turn at the same rate as the rollers 3 and 9 respectively. The brush belts 6 and 1 travel at equal speeds but slower than the smooth belts I2 and I3, for a purpose which will now be described.

The numeral 30 represents a piece of laundry in sheet form to be ironed, such as a towel, bed sheet or pillow case. The edge which is to be inserted rst in the machine is straightened by the operator pulling this edge crosswise to its full length. The edge is laid upon the belt 1A and permitted to travel between the belts 6 and 1 to be conveyed to the strings I6 and between the belts I2, I3. Ordinarily, in feeding work to a mangle, the work is progressively pulled and straightened transversely by hand. This operation is performed mechanically by the present machine when the work is gripped between the belts I2, I3. Since these belts travel faster than the belts 6, 1, the work is caused to slip between the belts 6, 1. The effect of the brush material on the work during the slippage is equivalent to the aforementioned hand operation of smoothing out the work while feeding it to the mangle. Due to engagement of brush material with both surfaces of the work, the sheet is smoothed out whether it be creased on the upper surface or on the lower surface. The belts I2, I3 obviously deliver the work to the strings I1 which in turn de liver it to the mangle mechanism I4, I5.

The slower moving parts 6, 1 may be Vof any suitable material having the frictional eifect o f a brushing action on the Work 30. `Also, the members I2, I3 may be of the same material as the members 6, 1, although the principal function of the parts I2, I3 is to engage the work rmly and to pull it between the parts 6, 1. The belts I2, I 3 may not grip the work until it reaches a point nearly half way between the rollers 8, I0, and in that case there would be still more brushing and smoothing action up to that point if the belts I2, I3 were of brush material. K

In the modication shown in Figures 4 and 5, the several belt rollers are mounted in the manner already described. The belt members 6',

1', I 2 and I3 are in the form of spaced ,strips` as already described, and the members 6", 1' as well as the members I2', I 3 are of ordinary belt material. i

The brushing action on the work is accomplished by means of small brushes positioned to engage both surfaces of the work. kSupporting bars 3| and 32 are mounted across the frame members I', the former between the laps of theY belt 6' and the latter between the laps of the belt 1'. The bars are grooved at 33 in the direction of travel to receive brush backs 34 facing the contacting laps of the belts 6, 1'. At the forward end of each groove 33 is a stop shoulder 35 for the brush back received therein. The backs are in line with the spaces between the belt strips, and the bristles 36 are received in these spaces at the contacting laps as clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5. The surface of contact between the two sets of bristles is in the same plane as the surface of contactof the belts.

'Ihe work 31 is applied to the belt 1 in the manner already described and is conveyed between the two sets of brushes. At the receiving end, the bristles are preferably cut away to form a notch 38 whereby the work is subjected initially to a lighter but progressively increasing brushing action until the work reachesthe point where the bristles are in full contact with each other.

The belts I2', I3 merely pull the work, but at a faster rate than permitted by the belts 6', 1 alone, so that the work is caused to slip between 5 the bristles in the same manner as between the brush belts 6, 1 in Figures 2 and 3, and with the same effect. Ordinarily there is sufficient pressure between belts I2', I3 to pull the work from between bristles 36 and belts 6', 1'. Even if there is not sufiicient pressure for this purpose, the slower belts constantly feed the work to the faster belts which slip over the work and exert a brushing action thereon until the work has been entirely discharged from the lower belts. If the ironing machine draws the work in at a speed greater than that of the faster belts, the work is pulled between the belts and another brushing action is effected.

Each belt with its two rollers may be replaced 20 by a single roller covered with suitable material. This form of construction is shown in Figure 6. The work 40 is fed between rollers 4I and 42 covered with a material 43 having a brushing effect when the work is pulled between the roll- 20' ers. Another pair of rollers, 44, 45 travels at a greater speed than the rollers 4I, 42 and is covered with a material 46, such as ordinary leather belting, adapted to grip the work and pull it between the rollers 4I, 42. The work is conveyed 30 from the first pair of rollers to the second by means of strings 41 joining the rollers 42 and 45.

The invention also contemplates the use of more than two conveying units, if desired, increasing progressively in speed towards the mangle and the slower ones having a brushing action on the work.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as indicated by the appended claims.

`'What I claim is: v

1. An attachment for ironing machines comprising two conveying units, each unit adapted simultaneously to engage the work on both surfaces, one being nearer the machine than the other and propelled at a faster rate than the other, the nearer unit being adapted to grip and pull the work through the other unit, and the other unit having brushing surfaces engaging the work as it is pulled therethrough.

2. An attachment for ironing machines comprising two conveying units, each unit adapted simultaneously to engage the work on both surfaces, one being nearer the machine than the other and propelled at a faster rate than the other, the nearer unit being adapted to grip and pull the work through the other unit, and the other unit having moving brushing surfaces engaging the work as it is pulled therethrough.

3. An attachment for ironing machines comprising two conveying units, each unit adapted simultaneously to engage the work on both surfaces, one being nearer the machine than the other and propelled at a faster rate than the other, the nearer unit being adapted to grip and pull the work through the other unit, and brushes associated with the slower unit and between which thework is carried by said unit.

4. An attachment for ironing machines comprising two conveying units each adapted to engage the work on both surfaces. one being nearer 75 the machine than the other and propelled at a faster rate than the other, the nearer unit being adapted to grip and pull the work through the other unit and the other unit having brushing surfaces engaging the work as it is being pulled therethrough, and means for transferring the work from the slower to the faster unit.

5. An attachment for ironing machines comprising two double belt conveying units, one unit being nearer the machine than the other, each unit including a belt superimposed on and in contact with another belt, means for propelling all the contacting belt parts in the same direction and the unit nearer the machine at a faster rate than the other unit, the faster unit being adapted to grip and pull the work through the slower unit, the slower unit having brushing surfaces engaging the work as it is pulled therethrough.

6. An attachment for ironing machines comprising two conveying units, each adapted to engage the work on both surfaces, one being nearer the machine than the other and propelled at a faster rate than the other, the nearer unit being adapted to grip and pull the work through the other unit, and the other unit having spaces formed in its belts, brushes mounted in said spaces and engaging each other in the plane of contact of said belts.

'7. An attachment for ironing machines comprising two pairs of rollers, the members of each pair being in superimposed relation and in manual contact, one pair being nearerrthe machine than the other, means for propelling the unit nearer the machine at a faster rate than the other, the faster unit being adapted to grip and pull the work through the slower unit, the slower unit having brushing surfaces engaging the work as it is pulled therethrough.

8. An attachment for ironing 4machines comprising two conveying units, each Vadapted to engage the work on both surfaces, one being nearer the machine than the other and propelled at a faster rate than the other, the nearer unit being adapted to grip and pull the work through the other unit, and the other unit having brushing surfaces engaging the work as it is pulled therethrough, and means for transferring the work from the slower to the faster unit.

9. An attachment for ironing machines comprising two conveying units, each unit adapted simultaneously to engage the work on both surfaces, one unit being propelled at a faster rate than the other, one of vsaid units having brushing means adapted to engage the work.

l0. An attachment for ironing machines comprising two conveying units, each unit adapted simultaneously to engage the work on both surfaces, one being nearer the machine than the other and propelled at a faster rate than the other, the nearer unit being adapted to grip and pull the work through the other unit, one of said units having moving brushing surfaces adapted to engage the work.

1l. An attachment for ironing machines cornprising two conveying units, each adapted to engage the work on both surfaces, one unit being propelled at a faster rate than the other, one of said units having brushing means adapted to engage the work, and means for transferring the work from the slower to the faster unit.

SOL LIFSITZ. 

